Bailey's got her hands full between the construction of her candy factory and the team from NYC to film it as a continuation of her series on Amish candies. Unfortunately the construction has come to a complete stop for almost two months due to a list of issues from the general contractor, all leading to his demands for more cash before he starts up again. For once she was relieved to have the camera on when she fired him keeping him somewhat in control of himself. But later she overheard him vowing she would be sorry... starting tonight.

The story ties together life in an Amish tourist town, daily life of many of the Amish with a good murder mystery. All your favorite characters are here, especially Jethro, the pet pig.

Blueberry Blunder

by Amanda Flower

If you need an escape from real life or from a challenging nonfiction book, I highly recommend Blueberry Blunder. Amanda Flower has once more written a cozy mystery that confounds the reader and includes a lot of humor and a tad of romance.

Bailey, a former New York chocolatier, is currently expanding Swissmen Sweets, an Amish candy shop she owns with her grandmother in Harvest, Ohio. The candy factory under construction experiences a huge setback when Bailey has to fire her general contractor and then later finds him dead in the unfinished factory. His murder is, of course, the prime focus of the mystery, but there are many other threads. Cousin Charlotte who is estranged from her Amish family because she decided not to join the church is preparing for her wedding to Deputy Little. There are lots of interactions of Amish and Englisch in this cozy, and it is a great opportunity to see that there are many differences among the various Amish districts. Aiden, Bailey’s boyfriend, resigns from Ohio’s Bureau of Investigation, and returns to Harvest to begin a business as a Private Investigator. His mother Juliet is thrilled and is anxious for him to propose to Bailey. Meanwhile, Juliet is convinced that Jethro, her polka-dotted pot bellied pig needs to frequently accompany Bailey as she goes through her day making candy and investigating crimes. Bailey is also being shadowed by an intrusive film crew of two from Gourmet Network which produces Bailey’s candy show.

There is plenty of fun to go around and lots of characters with probable motivation for murder. I very much enjoyed my return visit to Swissmen Sweets and Harvest, Ohio.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Rating: 5/5

Category: Mystery

Notes: #8 in the Amish Candy Shop Mystery series, but can definitely be read as a standalone because the author does an outstanding job of filling in background without boring readers of previous books in the series.

Publication: May 23, 2023—Kensington

Memorable Lines:

“Sit.” She pointed at the empty chair at the table. I fell into the chair as if I had been shot from the sky. Graceful to a fault, that was me, I thought sarcastically.

It was a clear to me that he had some of the same anger issues as his father. He might not like how his dad treated him, but I could see him going down the same bitter road himself.

I could think of about a million things that I would rather do than spend the day with the elder Littles, such as swim with sharks and get a root canal.

This was a pleasant next installment in the Amish Candy Shop series. It was nice to have Charlotte a bit more involved in this story, although I feel like we hardly saw Bailey’s grandmother at all. It will be interesting to see what comes next for the town of Harvest after a few of the events in this story. 3.5 stars rounded up!

Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the complimentary digital review copy of this title.

In long running series there are sometimes texts that serve as filler in order to bridge story lines. This is one of those filler texts. It sets up some big future moments for the characters. I do hope, however, that Bailey finds her backbone. If not, she is going to have a miserable go of it in the future.

3.5 stars

There is something sour in the candy world and it isn't the candy! Once again, Amanda Flower has given us a wonderfully written mystery set in the Amish Candy Shop and Bailey King is once again in the center of the investigation. This time things take a deadly turn and Bailey may be the next person caught in the crossfire. An intriguing tale of murder, marriage, crooked construction and so much more are on the agenda in this book. You won't want to miss it! I am amazed that the author keeps coming up with such creative story lines to entertain us with.

Bailey King works in Harvest OH with her grandmother running the candy store Swissmen Sweets. Bailey has achieved some notoriety with her cable TV so business is booming. To increase production, Bailey has decided it's time to build a factory. Her grandmother is Amish and though not happy about the construction understands that when shew is gone, this will be totally Bailey's business.

Problems arise when the contractor and Bailey have a major argument, he is fired, and then later found murdered at the construction site. Bailey's efforts to keep construction on target while clearing her name lead the reader on aa merry trail.

Characters are as wonderful as ever and the story entertaining.

Book #8 in An Amish Candy Shop Mystery. Bailey was quite busy in this story. Not only is she overseeing the construction of her candy factory, but she also has a film crew following her every move as they film her for a reality TV show. At the same time, the quaint town of Harvest, OH is celebrating its first ever Blueberry Bash, which may be in honor of the local Match Maker and her endless affection for the tiny fruit. The candy shop is participating by passing out samples of Blueberry Fudge (a recipe included at the end of the book) and Margot is trying her darnest to rope Bailey into being the Blueberry Princess of the festivities. If that's not enough, Bailey once again finds herself at the center of a murder investigation which causes the new factory construction to come to a screeching halt.

I love this series. The location and characters have been so fun to watch develop as the series has grown. In this story, we get to meet Charlotte and Deputy Little's families. Both parties provided plenty of extra drama, but I enjoyed getting a glimpse into Charlotte's past and the effects her leaving the Amish lifestyle has had on others. As always, Jethro the mischievous pig made me smile and stole the spotlight in every single scene he appeared in. Just wait until you read about Jethro vs. the parakeets, it's just plain good entertainment!

The mystery quite frankly had me stumped. There were so many likely suspects and reasons for the victim's unfortunate demise, plus a few red herrings that easily threw me off the correct path. I had the wrong culprit picked out and was pleasantly surprised when the big reveal took place.

I always look forward to reading this series and will be extra anxious to continue it after that last scene! I have a feeling Juliet is going to be a force to be reckoned with in the next story!

Blueberry Blunder by Amanda Flower is a great cozy mystery. I highly recommend this title in the series to all readers of mysteries. I'm looking forward to the novel in this series.

I love the Amish Candy Shop Mystery series and Blueberry Blunder was another great addition to the series. Bailey King, is building a Swissman Sweets candy factory in Harvest, Ohio. The TV Producer of her show, Bailey's Amish Sweets, want to film the building and opening of the factory, and sends a producer and cameraman to Harvest. When the builder she hired starts bullying her to pay more money and stops working on her project, she fires him. He threatens her with legal action, but she has the law on her side. That night, she feels funny about what he might do, so she goes to check out the building and finds Wade, dead on the scaffolding in the factory. The argument had been filmed adding to Bailey's stress and making her look guilty. Will the filming make Harvest look bad and cause tourists to stay away? When Bailey's cousin Charlotte's father gets arrested for the murder, Bailey is asked to help find the real killer by his wife. With a blueberry festival happening, Aiden returning to Harvest to open his own PI business, Charlotte's wedding coming up, filming a reality show, trying to find a new contractor and find the murderer, Bailey has way too much going on in her life. Will she be able to sort everything out in time for Charlotte's wedding?

Bailey, her family and friends and all the residents of Harvest are wonderful characters. I love spending time with them, especially catching up with Jethro the pig. This was a tricky mystery with several suspects. Once a motive for some was discovered, Bailey was on the hunt. This book had the Sheriff involved in the case, which was different, he usually just sat in the station and stuck his nose in every now and then. He is one of the few characters I disliked in this series. Millie and Lois also make an appearance from Amanda Flower's other Amish series, which was fun. With so much going on, this story moved quickly and kept me reading and listening. I thought I knew who the murderer was and I was partially right, but wow, the ending was totally unexpected. I really enjoyed this one and say, you outdid yourself Ms. Flower.

I adore this cozy mystery series. The characters are wonderful and the mysteries are always intriguing and keep me guessing. And the antics of Juliet and Jethro the pig are always entertaining. Plus we get to see the relationship between the English and the Amish.
Highly recommend this book and series.

Many thanks to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are without bias or favor or expectation.

I always enjoy visiting Bailey, friends and Jethro in Harvest, Ohio. I like the Amish and the English interactions as they both live and work in the area. Although I didn't enjoy this book as much as the others, this was another well-written book that kept my attention in this series. I'm looking forward to the next one in the series.

Blueberry Blunder
An Amish Candy Shop Mystery, Book #8
Amanda Flower
5 Stars

Synopsis:

For fans of Laura Childs' Tea Shop Mysteries and Ellery Adams' Culinary Cozy Mysteries, the Amish Candy Shop series combines a fascinating look at Amish life with the fun of candy making and a hint of romance between chocolatier Bailey King and her law enforcer boyfriend.

Bailey King, star of TV’s Bailey's Amish Sweets, is building her dream candy factory in Harvest, Ohio. But no sooner is the frame of the new building up than she finds the dead body of a surly contractor who has a long list of enemies—including people in the Amish community. To add to the drama, Bailey is being filmed by a crew for her upcoming show. . .

When Bailey’s TV producer pitched a reality show about building the factory, Bailey was shocked that the network picked it up. She’s not shocked that many of the Amish working on the jobsite refuse to be on camera. However, local community organizer Margot Rawlings is ecstatic—because the filming coincides with Harvest’s First Annual Blueberry Bash. Margot believes the media attention will make Harvest the most popular destination in Holmes County. But now, the county may become known for all the wrong reasons . .

Bailey will have to sift through a crowd of angry villagers and thousands of blueberries to solve the murder, save her new venture, and protect her Amish friends. At the same time, she and her longtime boyfriend, Aiden Brody, are making big decisions about their future together—a future that may be in jeopardy if Bailey is the next pick on a killer’s list . . .

Recipe Included! (Amazon)

Review:

Bailey and the gang have a wedding to get ready for. Charlotte and Deputy Little are getting married and it should be a joyous occasion. But the death of an unpopular contractor has put a damper on the preparations. And to make matters worse, Charlotte’s father is under suspicion. Bailey will have to figure it out so Charlotte can have the perfect day.

The writing style flows smoothly and the book is a quick easy read. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and it helped me to get engaged from the first page. The mystery was well plotted and it was not easily solved. You will need your thinking caps on to try and figure it out.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. Put on your best Sunday clothes and plan to attend the wedding–maybe.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Kensington Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.

Bailey King moved to Harvest, Ohio, to help her grandmother run her candy store after her grandfather died. So far, things have been going well, and Bailey even has her own television show. Everything is going so well, in fact, that Bailey is now building a candy factory not too far away. The framing is up, and it's on to the next stage -- or it would be if her contractor wasn't trying to get more money out of her. When she refuses, he also refuses to work, leading to an altercation between the two. When he's found dead up on the scaffolding, Sheriff Marshall is looking at her as a suspect. She's not having any of it, and is determined to find the killer so she can get on with her life. Unfortunately, her life is already turned upside down: she's got a film crew following her who seem more interested in the murder than the factory, the Blueberry Bash that's in full swing, and her cousin Charlotte, who is preparing for her own wedding to Deputy Luke Little and meeting his parents for the first time. Who said life was boring? And let's not forget Jethro the pig, who gets into his own situations...

I have always loved this series. It's one of the most delightful ones out there, and the plots are interesting enough to keep you reading straight through. Of course, we have a murder early on, and of course, Bailey is once again trying to solve it. With her cousin Charlotte helping her along the way (to the natural displeasure of Charlotte's fiancé), they try and avoid the film crew while looking for clues -- and sometimes meeting with unpleasant people.

This time it goes into the heart of the Amish people, and there are those who would rather not talk to the duo, including Charlotte's parents (read the book to find out why). Bailey's boyfriend Aiden is back in town as a newly-minted PI and he's got a case of his own to figure out -- will it connect back to Bailey's, or not matter at all?

When the ending comes it leaves us with a warm feeling inside; the killer is caught (of course), and everything goes back to normal (as much as it can) with quite a surprise to give us. Again, I love this series and eagerly await the next book. Highly recommended.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review.

Bailey King is engaged in expansion of her Amish sweet store with a factory when the contractor just fired for non performance is found dead on the site. Whodunit? Amanda Flower explores many suspects in the Amish and non Amish community who had quarrels or business arguments with the builder. A blueberry festival and a pot bellied pig who loves blueberries add humor in Blueberry Blunder.

I've loved this series since I read the first novel and it's still a fav as I liked the setting and the characters.
There's was an interesting character arc and Bailey is stronger and confident. I would like her to be more assertive and be able to say NO to Margot's requests as it's a bit paradoxal saying "Too many things to do" at the beginning of a page and accepting to help Margot at the end of the same page.
That said it's a highly entertaining and solid mystery that kept me guessing and on the edge. Plenty of twists and surprises, a tightly knitted plot.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I just adore this sweet little cozy series. Amanda Flower has mastered the ability to write multiple series and keep her readers engaged throughout them all. This one is no different and is well worth picking up.

Thank you Netgalley, for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/edit/62608197

Bailey King star of TV’s Bailey’s Amish Sweets is building her dream candy factory in Harvest, Ohio. No sooner is the frame of the new building up than she finds a dead body of a surly contractor who has a long list of enemies including people in the Amish community. The local community organizer Margot Rawlings is ecstatic because the filming coincides with the Harvest’s First Annual Blueberry Bash. Margot believes the media attention will make Harvest the most popular destination inHolmes County. But now the county may become known for all the wrong reasons. Bailey has to go through a crowd of angry villagers to solve the murder save her new venture and protect her Amish friends, while she and long time boyfriend Aiden Brody are making plans about their future together a future that maybe in jeopardy if Bailey is next on the killer’s list. A fun story in Amish Country everyone will enjoy Amanda Flower writes amazing stories.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher. I was excited to receive the next book of the Amish Candy Shop Mysteries! I have enjoyed Bailey’s mysteries. Bailey has finally started building her chocolate factory and Gourmet Television has sent some people to get some B-roll footage taped of the factory for a new series. Margot has decided to set up the First Annual Blueberry Bash and wants Bailey to participate, Juliet wants Bailey to watch Jethro, Aiden is finally coming back to town to live, and Bailey finds a body. Bailey is feeling a bit overwhelmed but she has a new mystery to solve before her cousin’s wedding.

Princess Fuzzypants here: Bailey is faced with culture clashes on all fronts. Her cousin Charlotte, who has left the Amish ways, will marry her policeman boyfriend soon. Her family is still snubbing her for what they perceive as her betrayal and she is about to meet her future in-laws. Bailey is also clashing with the builder who is contracted to finish the candy factory that has the community divided. And all of this is being caught on tape as she agreed to have her network film the building of her factory but the producer who is doing the filming does not understand boundaries. The contractor ends up dead and Bailey is in the cross-hairs of the top cop who despises her. Thank Bast her boyfriend, Adrien, is returning to town. Now if his mother would stop dropping Jethro, her pet pig, into Bailey’s care maybe she could sort out all of the messes.

I have enjoyed this series…and who could resist Jethro. Definitely it is one that should be read in sequence because the development of the characters and how they deal with the conflicts in the mystery. It also makes the conclusion of the story more satisfying because the reader has been transported along through trials and tribulations. Four purrs and two paws up.

Bailey King was hoping to have her candy factory up and running for the end of August. She even arranged for a small crew to be on hand filming for a new realty show on Gourmet Television. But it's the end of June and progress has come to a grinding halt, with Wade Farmer, general contractor, claiming materials delays and issues with employee retention, then requesting additional advance monies to compensate for these issues. This is the last straw and Bailey fires Wade, publicly and caught on camera...a fact that is held against her when Wade's dead body is later found at her construction site. Can Bailey prove her innocence and pinpoint the real killer, despite the Sheriff focusing all his efforts on her. Besides the murder, the town is also involved in a blueberry festival, as well as preparations for the wedding of Charlotte and Deputy Luke Little. Lots of action as always in this series, with delightful comic relief from the adorable pet pig, Jethro. I was glad to see that Millie and her friend Lois make an appearance in this story (although I missed Millie's goats). I can't wait for the next book in this series. Disclosure: I am voluntarily reviewing this book through NetGalley and all opinions are strictly my own.